Police allege man tried to murder flatmate with drugs, hammer

Police allege Kevin Arden drugged his 26-year-old flatmate Harry Sumantri then hit him over the head with a hammer in their Sydney apartment on Friday. He has been charged with intent to murder and refused bail in court today.

Police responded to the injured man at 6.30pm Friday.

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A Sydney man who police allege tried to murder his flatmate by drugging him and hitting him on the head with a hammer has been refused bail.

Kevin Arden, 26, appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday after being charged with wounding with intent to murder over the incident last week.

Police allege in court documents Arden drugged his flatmate Harry Sumantri, also 26, in their CBD apartment before hitting him on the head with a hammer about 6.30pm on Friday.

Emergency crews found Sumantri with head injuries in a bedroom before he was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital, where he was treated for two skull fractures, cuts to his head and a fractured hand.

He remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Arden was arrested at the flat and taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital under police guard before being charged at Day St police station.

In court on Sunday, Arden’s defence lawyer Gazi Abbas said he would make a bail application on behalf of his client at a later date.

“I have instructions not to make a release application, we’re asking to adjourn the matter,” he said.

“I do have instructions to go for bail, just not for today — we’ll be preparing for a release application (sometime) in the future.”

Magistrate Sharon Claire Freund formally refused Arden bail and adjourned the matter until June 11.

A crime scene was established at the unit and a number of items were seized for further examination during the investigation.

Police said they were doing toxicology tests to determine what substance Sumantri was allegedly poisoned with.